From Tony Osauzo and Ighomuaye Lucky, Benin

The Edo State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Sam Olumekun, has warned politicians against hate speeches during campaigns, saying such could incite fears and discourage full participation of voters in the electoral process.
He gave the warning during a meeting of Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) with chairmen, secretaries of political parties, governorship candidates and their deputies for the 2016 governorship election held at the Police Officers’ Mess, in Benin City, yesterday.
He said one of the inherent dangers in hate speeches and name callings during campaigns, was that it sends a very bad signal to the electorate who, in turn would be wary of their safety and therefore, choose to boycott the election to the detriment of the political party.
The Edo State INEC boss, however noted that for the benefit of all, it is pertinent that the governorship candidates should strive to use more dignifying words and tell the electorate their plans rather than indulging in mudslinging and name callings during their political campaigns.
The REC said the commission has done all in its capacity to ensure equity and fairness in its activities through series of programmes and stakeholders’ meetings being organized by the body with a view to fostering a peaceful and credible election in the state.
Speaking in the same vein, the Edo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Chris Ezike, urged the politicians to play by the rules, assuring that the police will remain neutral and ensure the safety of lives and property before, during and after the election.‎
He also assured politicians that the election would remain one of the most peaceful in the state as the body would deploy all its resources to making it peaceful. “The luck Edo State is having is that it is the only state having an election to conduct. And on this note, all our sister agencies would be on ground to render helping hands to make it peaceful”, he said.
The Edo Police boss called on those having genuine complaints to do so while stressing that parties having their political rally should notify the police before embarking on campaign to enable them provide the adequate security they deserve.
While delivering  a lecture on the topic: “Imperatives of adherence to guidelines on political campaigns for peaceful election, ” the Zonal Director, National Broadcasting Commission, Mrs. Gloria Makinde said the broadcast stations must remember that their role is to foster national unity and that  sweeping remarks made on air through it can cause great damage.
She therefore called on all stakeholders in the media industry and politicians to desist from making inflammatory  statements that could further heat up the polity in the state, adding that they should bear it in mind that the state belongs to everyone and they must work together to safeguard it.


Oshiomhole’ll hand over to you, royal fathers assure Obaseki

Royal fathers in Edo North have assured Mr. Godwin Obaseki, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) that he will win the forthcoming election and that Governor Adams Oshiomhole will hand over to him on November 12, 2016.
In a statement, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Oshiomhole, Peter Okhiria said the traditional rulers who converged on the palace of the Otaru of Igarra, Oba Adeche Saiki II, observed that Oshiomhole has done his best and they believe he will leave behind a worthy successor.
Oba Adeche Saiki II who spoke on behalf of the other royal fathers who gave their royal blessings to the APC candidate and his running mate, Hon Philip Shaibu during a visit to his palace said: “today, you have come to introduce to us the new person that will take over from you. We have listened attentively and we have no option than to believe all you said about him.
“For Mr. Godwin Obaseki, we congratulate you for your nomination as the gubernatorial candidate of the APC in this state. I am sure you will listen to our governor. He has done his best and he is about going, maybe within the next four months, he will give the baton to you, and we will be looking on you to give us your best too”.
Governor Oshiomhole who introduced Obaseki and his running mate, Hon. Shaibu to the Otaru and the other royal fathers said he came to ask for their royal blessings.
“Godwin has been the man working behind the scene. He has been the chairman of our Economic Team. He knows everything that I know, and there is nothing we have done that he doesn’t know; even the issues we had in the course of constructing the road from here to Ososo through Dangbala. So, I told people he is one man I don’t need to do handing over to. The only thing is that the mistakes we have made, he will not repeat because he knows those mistakes”.


APGA promises to build fashion village in Edo

The All Progressives Grand Alliance governorship candidate for Edo State, Osaro Onaiwu, has promised those in the textile and Fashion industry in the state a better business environment for them if elected into office.
Onaiwu, popularly called the ‘Solution’, who made the promise in a statement in Benin City yesterday, promised that he would build a fashion Village with all necessary infrastructure.
The APGA governorship candidate whose campaign revolves around seven pillars for the development of the state, emphasized that his administration will also focus on employable education whereby everyone trained in any vocation is gainfully employed even before finishing his/her formal  training. Osaro Onaiwu enjoined all eligible voters in Edo not to mortgage their future for temporary frivolous gifts from selfish politicians who do not have their well-being at heart.

Related News


Ovia, no-go area for APC -Igbinedion

The lawmaker representing Ovia Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon Omosede Igbinedion, vowed yesterday that the two Ovia local governments were no-go- areas for the All Progressives Congress (APC), declaring that “Ovia is closed for the APC.”
Omosede, daughter of the Esama of Benin, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion stated this in Udo, Ovia South West local government area of the state, while campaigning for the Edo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.
She said the APC has long lost touch with Ovia Federal Constituency as none of the promises made to the people of the area by the Adams Oshiomhole’s administration was fulfilled and that the people were waiting to punish the ruling party for the deliberate underdevelopment of the area.
“Ovia is closed for APC. Ovia is the most underdeveloped constituency in Edo South. By voting for Pastor Ize-Iyamu, I can assure you that there will be development in Ovia. PDP will not make empty promises to you like the APC”, she said.
Ize-Iyamu while speaking earlier in Usen in the same council, accused the state government of deliberately abandoning the Edo State Polytechnic, Usen, established by the government of former Governor Lucky Igbinedion.
He also alleged that the APC governorship candidate, Godwin Obaseki, said in one of his campaigns that he would close the institution, saying it was shocking that the APC candidate did not know that the institution was owned by the state.
He appealed to striking lecturers of the institution not to abandon the school, saying the history of the polytechnic was about to change.
“Oshiomhole left Usen (Polytechnic) the way he met it. What you see in Usen are TETFUND projects. When we get to office, Usen will experience development. We will pay salary arrears of lecturers and bursary for Edo students”, Ize-Iyamu promised‎.
Some APC leaders in the local government including a youth leader of the APC in Ofunama ward defected to the PDP during the campaign that took Ize-Iyamu to Usen, Udo and Iguobazuwa.


Incumbency will not help APC —Utubor, PDP chieftain

By Ojieva Ehiosun

As the governorship election approaches, Director of operations of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hon. Utubor Felix, has dismissed the incumbency factor of the ruling party, saying the APC is already scared of defeat.
The erstwhile state party secretary said in Benin that the All Progressives Congress candidate, Godwin Obaseki, and the entire party family are scared of defeat. He stressed that the PDP candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize- Iyamu has everything that it takes to defeat his opponent if given a level play ground for them to prove their acceptance and popularity to Edo people.
“You can see that the tone of the music is changing, the PDP is out to pull a surprise. PDP as you know is a grassroots party; everywhere you go now in Edo State, it is Pastor Ize –Iyamu; the APC led by Governor Adams Oshiomhole acknowledges the fact that it is no longer business as usual; they are already jittering, the election fever is high here because the unexpected might happen”.
On the brouhaha of alleged buying of PVCS’ by the PDP, he described it as baseless and a calculated attempt to rubbish the image of the party. “There is no iota of truth in that allegation; in the first place, the PDP is not a money bag party; our voters want to perform their civic rights by voting a candidate that can deliver. They cannot prove what they are alleging. What is more important to us is working hard to win the election.”